Want to learn how to save and organize your design files?
It is time to get those files in check! Whether it is personal or work related, we have all been guilty of messy desktops, duplicate files, empty folders, unnamed files, and others. It starts with saving one file, a second file, a third one… the next thing you know, your computer files are saved inside a folder, of another folder, in a messy desktop. Folder-ception. You think, is it too late to save and organize my design files?
“Which one is the updated version? What did I name my design file? Did I save it here or did I save it in another folder/drive? Did I accidentally deleted it?” Common questions most of us are guilty of asking ourselves quietly. In our heavy-heart.
Learning how to save and organize your design files is crucial, as it will save a fair amount of your time, and keeps you sane. Not only that but saving your files in an organized manner also prevents you from deleting any important files by accident. No one is a fan of that.
Getting Started With Organizing Your Files:
You dread organizing the files in your desktop because it is everywhere. You don’t know where to begin. It is fine because everyone has been there! First and foremost, the important step is to think of a system that suits you best and start relocating and renaming your files. It is also important to remove any unnecessary files as well as clearing the recycle bin for more space.
This is a simple guide on how I save and organize my design files effectively for easy navigation:
Naming Your Design Files:
Naming your files consistently helps you navigate around much faster. Furthermore, I would highly advise you to also add the dates, after new modifications.
For example:
“Client_Brochure_210219”
“Client_Brochure_240219”.
“Client_Brochure_FA”
“Client_Brochure_FAOL”
Next, if you are working for a particular client/company with repetitive work, I suggest you categorize your folders in dates/years like how I manage my weekly blog posts. For instance in folder 2019:
“210219_Title”
“230319_Title”
“230319_Title_OL”
Lastly, I wouldn’t recommend overriding the files because it might come in handy one day. Just in case your client prefers the old design a few days after.
What does OL stand for? OL stands for Outline. It is important that you outline your texts and link your photos before sending them to the printer to prevent any mistakes or missing images. Read more at “Ready-Print Artwork in Adobe Illustrator“.
Image source: 1 2 3
